Affiliations: Research Group Psychosomatic Rehabilitation, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany | Rehabilitation Center Seehof, Teltow, Berlin, Germany | Department of Occupational Psychology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany | German Federal Pension Agency, Berlin, Germany
Note: [] Corresponding author: Michael Linden, Research Group
Psychosomatic Rehabilitation, Charité University Medicine Berlin,
Lichterfelder Allee 55, 14513 Teltow, Germany. Tel.: +49 3328 345678; Fax: +49
3328 345555; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The aim of occupational health care management programs (OHMP) is to improve the health status of
employees, increase work ability and reduce absence time. This includes better coping abilities, work-related self-efficacy and self-
management which are important abilities that should be trained within OHMPs. OBJECTIVES: To study the effectiveness of an OHMP including special interventions to enhance self-efficacy and self-
management. PARTICIPANTS: Employees from the German Federal Pension Agency. METHODS: Effects of an OHMP on sickness absence was
studied by comparing an intervention group and two control groups. A core
feature of the OHMP were group sessions with all members of working teams,
focussing on self-efficacy and self management of the individual participant as
well as the team as a group (focus groups). Participants in the OHMP were asked
for their subjective evaluation of the focus groups. Rates of sickness absence
were taken from the routine data of the employer. RESULTS: Participants of the OHMP indicated that they had learned better ways of coping and communication and that they
had generated intentions to make changes in their working situation. The rate of sickness absence in the intervention group
decreased from 9.26% in the year before the OHMP to 7.93% in the year after the program, while there was in the same time an
increase of 7.9% and 10.7% in the two control groups. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that OHMP with focus on self-efficacy and self management of individuals and
teams are helpful in reducing work absenteeism.
Keywords: Focus group, team training, prevention, health status, sickness absence
